Convertible paddle system

ABSTRACT

A paddle useful for paddle boarding comprises a shaft having a first end and an opposed second end, a first blade at the first end of the shaft, and a handle at the second end of the shaft. There is a second blade proximate the second end of the shaft. The second blade is moveable between first and second positions. The first position allows the handle to be used by the second blade being closer to the first end of the shaft that is the handle, i.e., a single blade configuration. In a double blade configuration, the second blade is in a second position that allows the second blade to be used by a portion of the second blade extending at least as far as the handle.

CROSS REFERENCE

The application claims the benefit of provisional patent application No. 61/273,435 filed Aug. 3, 2009, the entire disclosure which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The sport of stand-up paddle surfing in waves and stand-up paddle boarding outside the surf zone is an expanding phenomenon in the United States and around the world. All the sport requires is an appropriate board and a paddle, the paddle typically having a shaft, with a paddle blade at one end and a handle at the opposite end.

Occasionally it is necessary to kneel or sit on the board due to water and wind conditions. For example, when paddling up wind, the high profile provided by standing up can make forward progress very difficult.

A difficultly when paddling in a seated or kneeling position is that the paddle has only a single blade, unlike the double bladed paddles used for such sports as kayaking. This results in inefficient paddling, because it is frequently necessary to switch the single blade from the starboard side to the port side of the board and vice versa in order to maintain a straight course. This can be particularly tricky when a portion of the bow of the board is occupied by a load such as equipment and/or a passenger, such as a dog or child.

Thus, it would be advantageous to have a paddle that is suitable for paddle boarding, where the paddle can be used effectively both in the standing position as well as seated or kneeling position.

SUMMARY

The present invention is directed to a convertible paddle system that has these desirable features. The paddle comprises a shaft having a first end and an opposed second end. A first blade is at the first end of the shaft and a handle is at the second end of the shaft. In addition to the handle, there is a second blade proximate to the second end of the shaft. The second blade is moveable between first and second positions. In the first the second blade is closer to the first end of the shaft than is the handle so that the handle is exposed for stand up paddling. In the second position the second blade extends at least as far as the handle to provide a double bladed paddle where both blades can be used for seated or kneeling paddling.

This result can be affected by utilizing a conversion apparatus for attaching the second blade to the shaft, the second blade having a blade section and a mounting section. The apparatus comprises a housing, a connector for attaching the housing to the shaft, and a mount for mounting the housing to the mounting section of the second blade. The mount is moveable relative to the housing for movement of the second blade between the first and second positions, such as by swiveling.

Preferably a locking mechanism is provided for releasably locking the second blade in the first position and in the second position. The locking mechanism can comprise detents in the mount 180° opposed to each other, and a locking pin releasbly engageable with the detents. Preferably there are biasing means such as a spring for biasing the locking pin into engagement with the detents.

In some instances the second blade can be formed as a laminate and a reinforcement is provided in the laminate at the mounting section of the second blade for mounting the second blade to the mount. The reinforcement can comprise a substantially planar bracket having a hollow central section.

The apparatus can be used for retrofitting a preexisting paddle having a blade and a handle by attaching the apparatus to the shaft proximate to the handle without removing the handle from the shaft.

The connector can comprise straps for positioning around the shaft for strapping the housing to the shaft.

Thus, a paddle according to the present invention can easily be used in the stand up position, and easily converted to be used in a seated or kneeling position, merely by swiveling the second blade to a position where the paddle becomes effectively double bladed. Similarly, the paddle can easily be changed from its double bladed configuration to a configuration for use in a stand up position where only a single blade is used in the water and the handle is grasped by the paddler.

DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention can be better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:

FIG. 1. is a perspective view of a paddle according to the present invention in the blade-handle configuration, also showing in dashed lines the second paddle being swiveled to a double blade configuration;

FIG. 2 shows the paddle of FIG. 1 in its double bladed configuration;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the blade of FIG. 1 with the conversion apparatus attached;

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3. but shows the conversion apparatus exploded;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the blade of FIG. 1, partly in section;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a reinforcement bracket used with the paddle of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a portion of the paddle of FIG. 1 taken on lines 7-7 in FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION

With reference to the Figures, a paddle 10 having features of the present invention comprises a shaft 12 having a first end 14 and a second opposed end 16. The first end 14 of the shaft 12 has a first blade 18 and the second end 16 of the shaft 12 has a handle 20 thereon.

The paddle 10 as described so far can be any conventional available paddle board paddle, where the shaft can be any shape and size, formed of any materials, and wherein the first blade 18 can be of any desired shape or form and can be formed of any desired materials. The same is true of the handle 20. The first blade 18 can be integrally formed with the shaft 12 or secured thereto in any conventional manner. Similarly the handle 20 can be integrally formed with the shaft 10 or attached thereto in any conventional way. The paddle 10 with its shaft 12, first blade 18, and handle 20 can be formed especially for use for the invention, or can be existing commercially available paddle board paddle that is being retrofitted to have features of the present invention.

To render the paddle 10 convertible, it is provided with a conversion apparatus 22 proximate to the second end 16 of the shaft 12, the conversion apparatus 22 supporting a second paddle blade 24. The second paddle blade 24 has a blade section 26 and a mounting section 28. The second paddle blade 24 is mounted to the conversion apparatus 22 at its mounting section 28. The second paddle blade 24 has a first position, as shown in FIG. 1, where the blade section 26 is closer to the first end 14 of the shaft 12 than is the handle 20, wherein the handle 20 is exposed so that it can be used, thereby providing single blade paddling. The second paddle 24 has a second position, as shown in FIG. 2, wherein the blade section 26 of the second paddle 24 extends along the shaft 12 in the direction of the second end 16 of the shaft 12, preferably, as shown in FIG. 2, extending beyond the handle 20. This allows for two bladed paddling.

The second blade 24 is moveable between its first and second positions, such as by swiveling. In FIG. 1, the second position is shown in phantom by reference number 24A, and an intermediate position, where the second paddle is partly moved from its first position to its second position or vice versa, is shown by reference number 24B.

A preferred conversion apparatus 22 comprises a housing 30 having a swivel element 32 therein which can rotate 360° on a bearing assembly 34 having a race and bearings. The swivel element 32 and the bearing assembly 34 are held together by a fastener such as a set screw 35. On the exterior of the housing 30 is a mounting leg 36 for a pair of clamps 38 attached by fasteners 40 to the leg 36, the clamps 38 fitting around the shaft 12, and being tightened thereon by clamp fasteners 42. Adjustable clamps can be used so the conversion apparatus 22 can be used with paddle shafts of varying diameter. The clamps 38 are the preferred means for mounting or securing the conversion apparatus 22 to the shaft 12. Other mounting or securing means can be used such as a hook and loop fastener arrangement such as VELCRO, adhesives, fasteners extending directly through shaft, or it can be integrated into the shaft as the shaft is formed, so that the conversion apparatus is permanently secured to the shaft 12.

The conversion apparatus 22 is mounted to the second paddle blade 24 at its mounting section 28 by sandwiching the second blade 24 between an outer mounting plate 44 and inner mounting plate 46, wherein three fasteners 48 extend through the two mounting plates 44 and 46 through aligned holes in the second blade 24 and into aligned threaded holes 49 in the swivel element 32. Therefore, as the swivel element 32 swivels and rotates as described herein, the second blade 24 likewise can swivel between its first and second positions.

The downwardly facing surface 50 of the inner mounting plate 46, in the orientation shown in FIG. 4, can have a raised central section of about 0.03 inch that mates with a corresponding recessed section 54 in the upper surface 56 of the swivel element 32 for secure assembly. A rubber O-ring 58 is used to keep the housing 30 from wearing the inner mounting plate 46. A spring clip 60 is used to keep the swivel mechanism in the housing 30.

Thus a mounting mechanism for mounting the conversion apparatus 22 to the second blade 24 comprises the outer mounting plate 44, inner mounting plate 46, the fasteners 48, and corresponding mounting holes 49 in the swivel element 32.

A locking mechanism is provided for locking the second blade 24 in its first and second positions. The locking mechanism comprises a pair of detents 62 opposite each other, 180° spaced apart, in an outer side wall 64 of the swivel element 32. A locking pin 66 sized to fit into the detents 62 is held therein by an elongated locking pin driver 68 that is slideably mounted in an opening 70 through the housing 30. The locking pin driver 68 is biased into a locking position, as shown in FIG. 5, by biasing means such as a spring 72, that is held in the opening 70 by a set screw 74. The set screw 74 can be used to adjust the biasing force of the spring 72. A distal end 76 of the locking pin driver 68 extends out through housing 30. The locking pin driver 68 has a detent 80 on its surface facing the swivel element 32, the detent 80 being sized to receiving the locking pin 66. By pushing on the distal end 76 of the locking pin driver 68 in the direction shown by arrow 82 in FIG. 5 against the force of the spring 72, the detent 80 can be positioned to receive the locking pin 66, thereby releasing the swivel element 32 to swivel for moving the second blade 24 from its first position to its second position, or vice versa.

The second blade 24 could be of any shape and configuration used for paddle boarding, or for that matter for kayaking. It can be prepared from conventional materials. In a preferred version, a laminate of multiple layers of resin impregnated carbon fiber can be used, with a central core made of non-woven polyester that contains microspheres such as Coremat Xi or Coremat XM obtainable from Lantor nl whose contact information is Lantor Composites, Berlaat 22, Post Office Box 45, 3900AA Veenendaal, The Netherlands. A distributor is Alcan Composites, 108 Fairway Court, Northvale, N.J. 07647. Thus there are two outer weaves, a plain weave of carbon fiber; between the two outer layers are two layers of unidirectional carbon fiber; and between the two layers of unidirectional carbon fiber, the Coremat material. The carbon fibers are impregnated with resin, preferably epoxy resin. The second paddle can be formed in a compression mold, with or without application of heat.

To securely mount the conversion apparatus 22 to the mounting section 28 of the second blade 24, preferably reinforcement is provided, preferably in the form of a mounting bracket. In a preferred version of the invention, a reinforcing mounting bracket 84 as shown in FIG. 6 is used. In the laminate version of the paddle as described, preferably the mounting bracket 84 is embedded in the laminate as the second paddle blade 24 is formed. Typically it is placed adjacent to the Coremat material. Mounting bracket 84 is elongated, and has a central opening 86 for reduced weight. The bracket 84 has three mounting holes 88 for alignment with the mounting holes in the outer mounting plate 44 and inner mounting plate 46.

Thus, a paddle board is easy to alternate between a standing configuration using a single paddle blade as shown in FIG. 1, or kneeling/seated position for double bladed paddling using the paddle configuration shown in FIG. 2. This is accomplished merely by unlocking the locking mechanism and swiveling the second blade to its desired position. In addition, a paddle can be retrofitted with the conversion apparatus 22, or the conversion apparatus 22 can be permanently integral with a paddle such as by attaching it with an adhesive, permanent fasteners extending through the shaft, or having mounting elements that are molded into or retrofitted to extend into the shaft and then maintained therein with an adhesive.

Preferably to avoid corrosion from salt water the components are made of a corrosion resistant plastic such as an acetal resin, such as DELRIN available from DuPont, and corrosion resistant metals, such as stainless steel or anodized aluminum. For example the housing can be made out of anodized aluminum, and the swivel element can be made of anodized aluminum or stainless steel. The locking pin 66 and the release pin can be made from stainless steel. The clamps 38, outer mounting plate 44, and inner mounting 46 can be formed from Delrin. All of the fasteners can be made from stainless steel. The spring can be made from spring steel with an anticorrosion coating.

Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. For example, the mounting bracket need not be built into a laminated paddle, but alternatively can be mounted to an outer surface of the second blade. Accordingly the scope of the appended claim should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A paddle comprising: a) a shaft having a first end and an opposed second end; b) a first blade at the first end of the shaft; c) a handle at the second end of the shaft; and d) a second blade having a blade section, the second blade being proximate to the second end of the shaft, the second blade being movable between first and second positions, wherein in the first position the blade section of the second blade is closer to the first end of the shaft than is the handle so the handle can be used, and in the second position the blade section of the second blade extends along the shaft in the direction of the second end of the shaft.
 2. The paddle of claim 1 comprising apparatus for attaching the second blade to the shaft, the second blade having a blade section and a mounting section, the apparatus comprising: i) a housing; ii) a connector for attaching the housing to the shaft; and iii) a mount for mounting the housing to the mounting section of the second blade, the mount being movable relative to the housing for movement of the second blade between the first and second positions.
 3. The paddle of claim 2 comprising a locking mechanism for releasably locking the second blade in the first position and in the second positions.
 4. The paddle of claim 3 wherein the locking mechanism comprises detents in the mount about 180 degrees opposed to each other, and a locking pin releasably engageable with the detents.
 5. The paddle of claim 2 wherein the second blade comprises a laminate and reinforcement in the laminate at the mounting section of the second blade for mounting the second blade to the mount.
 6. The paddle of claim 5 wherein the reinforcement comprises a substantially planar bracket having a hollow central section.
 7. Apparatus attachable to a paddle having a shaft having first and second opposed ends, the apparatus comprising: a) a housing; b) a connector for attaching the housing to the shaft; and c) a paddle blade having a blade section and a mounting section, the mounting section being movably mounted to the housing for movement of the paddle blade between first and second positions, wherein in the first position the blade section is closer to the first end of the shaft than it is in the second position.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the connector comprises at least one clamp for positioning around the shaft for clamping the housing to the shaft.
 9. The apparatus of claim 7 comprising a mount in the housing, the paddle blade mounting section being attached to the mount, the mount being movable relative to the housing to move the paddle blade between the first and second positions.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9 comprising a locking mechanism for releasably locking the paddle blade in the first position and in the second positions.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the locking mechanism comprises detents in the mount 180 degrees opposed to each other, and a locking pin releasably engageable with the detents.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11 comprising biasing means biasing the locking pin into engagement with the detents.
 13. The apparatus of claim 7 comprising a locking mechanism for releasably locking the paddle blade in the first position and in the second positions.
 14. A method for modifying a paddle comprising a shaft having a first end and an opposed second end, a first blade at the first end of the shaft; and a handle at the second end of the shaft; the method comprising the step of attaching the apparatus of claim 7 to the shaft proximate to the handle without removing the handle from the shaft.
 15. A paddle blade for mounting to a paddle shaft, the blade comprising a laminate of at least three layers with a mounting reinforcement embedded in the laminate.
 16. The paddle blade of claim 15 wherein the reinforcement comprises a substantially planar bracket having a hollow central section.
 17. A method for paddling on a board comprising the steps of paddling with the paddle of claim 1 with the second blade in the first position using only the first blade, moving the second blade to the second position, and then paddling with both blades.
 18. A method for paddling on a board comprising the steps of paddling with the paddle of claim 1 with the second blade in the first position and paddling with both blades, moving the second blade to the first position, and then paddling with only the first blade. 